I started reading Alyssa Cole sometime last year. I think I saw her name on a list of women of color writing contemporary romance, and given how tragically white much romance is, I thought I should give her a shot. I read her Off the Grid series, which, in addition to being both science fictional and post-apocalyptic (these things are not necessarily the same things, a distinction I'm happy to fight about), also include a gay romance and one with and Asian dude as the hottie. Oh, and Cole is clearly a nerd and a geek, and she is not afraid of some pop cultural jokes. Really good stuff.

I didn't read more, at the time, because I'm, like, not as interested in modern day princess stories. I once went regularly to this open mic at an Irish bar run by a Welshman, and there was this woman who showed up regularly in full on tartan explosion. (Yes, I recognize that's all very Celticly confused, but this is America; deal). She tended to sit in the booth behind mine, and we were nodding acquaintances. She drove me absolutely fucking bananas with her bullshit.

See, she claimed to be some sort of Socttish royalty, like maybe not a duchess, exactly, but more like a countess? Honestly, I find it hard to give a fuck about titles so none of that stuff is going to track for me. Anyway, she had this younger dude who liked to do sweeping bows and a bunch of hand-kissing, probably because he spent too much time at the Ren Fest. Once, he tried to drag me into it, and I was like, sorry, I live in a representational democracy and have zero interest in kowtowing to someone because of who their grandparents are.

There was a record scratch noise and some people got pissed at me, but fuck royalty. Some of my people were hapless drunks, others were fleeing various wars, some just hated their hometowns. I feel neither pride nor shame about my ancestors; they were just people: good, bad, and indifferent.

Point being, I have something of a chip when it comes to the concept of hereditary monarchy. Sure, fine, if they're figureheads like in Denmark (though I'm still not bowing and scraping), but actual ruling dynasties like the al Saud family are monsters, as one recently brutally murdered journalist could attest if he hadn't been dismembered and murdered, not exactly in that order.

Which is to say, I'm a fucking crank about a little subgenre of romance novels with lighthearted wish fulfillment about being a princess. I recognize I have issues.

So, it came as something of a surprise when I actually earnestly enjoyed Duke by Default. Cole dives right into the class issues of the peerage, and doesn't cut those assholes any slack. Her Duke character is actually the child of a Scottish Duke and a refugee, raised by a step-father and with half siblings who are straight up black. He's not some ponce, and more's the better. Oh, and his love interest is coming to terms with an ADHD diagnosis, which was sensitively written. All told, well done.

Princess in Theory, less so. (Note: I read these books out of order.) The main character, who has aged out of the foster care system and is struggling to make it in the STEM field as a black woman of no means, was a fucking great character. Prince what's his face from an imaginary African country, him I did not like much at all. Sure, some of this is intentional: he's to have a redemption arc from being a rich dickhead to monarch with a heart of gold. But I just couldn't get on board, though of course some of this is my aforementioned frustration.

Anyway! So, one which didn't work so great, and one which knocked it out the park. I would totally read number three.

What a ride! And honestly one of the best written crime series and couples I have read. Cordelia has developed an absolutely beautiful, real and perfectly imperfect couple that will be sticking with me for quite some time. Just this passage alone enhanced for me the depth to which a writer can create emotional connection without words and without touch.

Dominic unwrapped his sandwich and separated the halves. Nudging one half in Levi’s direction, he raised an inquiring eyebrow.

Levi hesitated. Unlike most people in his life, Dominic never pressured him to eat. If he turned down the offer, Dominic would let it go at that. But it had been a while since he’d last eaten, and though he wasn’t hungry, it was a good idea to get some fuel in his system that wasn’t caffeine.

Nodding his thanks, he sat across the table and accepted half the sandwich. When he bit into it, he was surprised to find it was roast beef, his favorite.

Dominic didn’t even like roast beef.

Levi swallowed his mouthful and looked up. Dominic was chewing in silence, watching the infomercial on the TV across the room like it was the most fascinating thing he’d ever seen. Levi fiddled with the crust of the sandwich for a moment, then took another bite.

They ate without talking for a few minutes.

Yes...I got teared up reading this. Just wow!

Eagerly await a reread of this series as well as the final book in the series.

The thing was, Dominic had always loved Levi’s hard edges, his acid tongue, his ruthless streak. Underneath all that prickly sarcasm lay an achingly compassionate heart—a man who was unflinchingly loyal and fiercely protective. Dominic had enjoyed peeling away all those layers, had relished the knowledge that he was one of the few people in the world Levi trusted enough to be vulnerable with.

I'll never stop fighting for her...no matter the stakes. Lucas… A year ago I found out I was a long lost prince. But with one lie, that’s all been undone. But prince or pauper, I’m not going to stop fighting for Bryna. She may be the only thing I can count on right now.

Bryna…

I never meant to get in so deep with my royal roommate—but in my defense I didn't know. If anyone else finds out his royal status my mother will meddle faster than you can say gold digger. More importantly, Lucas’s life could be in danger. Because I’m not the only one with secrets. And there’s a lot more at stake than heartbreak.

NOTE: This is a sequel - you must have read Royal Bastard to understand Bastard Prince!

This is book #2, in the Royals Undone series. I do not recommend reading this on its own. It is intended to be read in order. To avoid spoilers, understand the series and more - please read this great series in order.

Lucas and Bryna's story continues with him trusting his mom. He goes off on a mission of sorts to solve the unsolved puzzle about his parents. How they met, how he came to be, and finds more than he bargains for.

Bryna is heartsick that she trusted someone that let her down. What love means to her must not be what it means to others. When her King and Queen ask the impossible, she has to decide if she can do what they ask and still survive when she has to walk away.

This story is just massive. It has so many parts to it you almost have to re-read it just to keep up. I love the suspense, the heat, and the characters who are totally devoted despite incredibly low odds. Fabulous cameos by our famous favorite couple make it an all around really good read.

Don’t get in trouble, they said. Don’t cause an incident. Oops. I might be a newfound prince, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to say goodbye to my days of freedom. So when my brother, the king, asks me to babysit a diplomat’s daughter, my first thought is to say no… that is until I see her climbing out of a window with her dress tucked into her thong. She might just be my kind of girl. I just thought I'd mix business with pleasure...I didn’t plan to lose control of my heart.

Bryna…

I’ve been groomed by my parents to climb the social ladder all my life and I’m done with it. I want nothing from their royal world. Now that I’m finally on my own, I can live where I want, date who I want, do who I want. The one person I won’t be doing? My new accidental roommate. Oh, he’s gorgeous and mysterious, and cheeky. He’s also friends with the king and a total jackass. So basically, he’s never gonna get it...famous last words. (Book 1, Royals Undone)

About the Author:

USA Today Bestselling Author, NANA MALONE’s love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she borrowed from her cousin on a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana at a precocious thirteen. She’s been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters. Waiting for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, Nana, meantime works out her drama, passion and sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as she thinks she is.

The books in her series have been on multiple Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble best seller lists as well as the iTunes Breakout Books list and most notably the USA Today Bestseller list. Until that ninja job comes through, you’ll find Nana working hard on additional books for her series as well as other fun, sassy romances for characters that won’t leave her alone. And if she’s not working or hiding in the closet reading, she’s acting out scenes for her husband, daughter and puppy in sunny San Diego. Want to hit me up? Just email me: nana@nanamaloneromance.com

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